Marathon County Public Health Department confirmed a case of pertussis for a 5th grade student. The student is being treated with antibiotics and will not be infectious when they return to school. Your child could have been exposed on March 4, 2009. Please monitor your child for the symptoms listed below and have your child seen by a physician if you believe they are ill.Click on image at right for a PDF of the State of Wisconsin Dept. of Health Fact Sheet on Pertussis.

• Cold symptoms

• Low-grade fever

• Mild but irritating cough initially

• Continuous intense coughing that can interrupt breathing, eating and sleeping

• Coughing so hard the person vomits

• Coughing at night

• Whooping-like sound at the end of the coughing spell

Usually 7-14 days

The bacteria are spread by contact with the respiratory droplets from an infected person through coughing. This can happen at school and/or during participation in community activities.

Pertussis is most contagious before the coughing starts until up to three weeks or more after cough starts without treatment. Persons who have pertussis are not contagious after 5 days of antibiotics.

1. Watch for symptoms
   
2. Take your child to the doctor if they are coughing
   
3. If your child is TESTED for pertussis, your child MUST stay at home until:
   • The test results are NEGATIVE – meaning your child does not have pertussis
   
4. If your child’s TEST is POSITIVE, your child MUST:
   • Stay home until he/she has taken 5 DAYS of antibiotics
   
5. If your child is coughing and the MD says it is NOT pertussis and NO TEST is needed:
   • Bring a note stating that your child does not have pertussis and is not contagious.
   

6. If your child is put on an antibiotic because they MIGHT have pertussis and NO TEST is done:
   • Your child must stay home until he/she has taken 5 days of antibiotics.
   

Plan of Action:

1. Cover your cough.
2. Wash your hands.
3. We will send coughing students home and ask for an evaluation by a medical provider.